[Case-control study of hepatitis C HBs Ag and antivirus antibodies in chronic hepatopathies]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic hepatopathies are a significant global health concern.
• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major contributors to chronic liver disease worldwide.
• Understanding the prevalence of HBV and HCV is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and anti-HCV antibodies in patients with chronic hepatopathies.
• To compare the prevalence of these markers in patients versus healthy controls.
• To investigate the association of these viral markers with specific chronic liver conditions like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main Methods:

• A prospective case-control study was conducted.
• 91 patients with chronic hepatopathies and 92 healthy blood donors were included.
• Third-generation ELISA screening was used to detect HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies.

Main Results:

• HBs Ag was detected in 54% of patients compared to 4.3% of controls (p=0.0006).
• HBV and HCV markers were more frequent in patients with cirrhosis than in those with HCC.
• The co-occurrence of these viral markers was more common in cirrhosis cases.

Conclusions:

• HBV and HCV play a substantial role in the etiology of chronic hepatopathies in Mali.
• The findings highlight the importance of HBV and HCV screening in patients with chronic liver disease in the region.
• Further research into the specific impact of these viruses on liver disease progression is warranted.